<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16" title="Edit section: Navigating">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Navigating">Navigating</span></h3>
<p><b>Cross streets</b>. As San Francisco streets are numbered (100 per block) from the beginning of the street, and even and odd numbers are always on opposite sides, it is best when asking directions to ask for a cross street or neighborhood name rather than relying on the address alone. For instance, addresses on Mission Street at 18th Street are in the 2200s, but one block away on Valencia at 18th, addresses are only in the 700s. This is because Mission starts at the Embarcadero, two miles further east than Valencia's start at Market Street. Local residents rely on cross streets. </p>
<p><b>Numbered streets and avenues</b>. San Francisco has both numbered streets, in the Mission, the Castro, and SoMa, and numbered avenues in the largely residential Sunset and Richmond districts. Mixing numbered streets and avenues when asking directions may leave you miles from your destination. This can be confusing, as San Franciscans will not say &quot;Street&quot; or &quot;Avenue&quot; unless it is required to avoid ambiguity. Thus, they won't say &quot;I live on Fifth Avenue,&quot; but will say &quot;I live near Fifth and Geary.&quot; Street signs generally don't have &quot;Street&quot; or &quot;Avenue&quot; either; they just say &quot;GEARY&quot; or &quot;MASONIC&quot;, although numbered streets and avenues do. </p>
<p><b>Multiple street grids</b>. One of the most confusing aspects of driving in San Francisco is the presence of multiple street grids, particularly in the downtown area where two grids intersect at an angle along Market Street. Even more confusing are streets in the middle of the standard blocks, like New Montgomery Street. </p>
<p><b>No left turns</b>. Several key San Francisco arterial streets, including 19th Avenue and Market Street, do not have space for dedicated left turn lanes and therefore bear <b>NO LEFT TURN</b> signs at most intersections. As a result, you will be frustrated when you drive for miles on these streets with no opportunity to turn left. The trick, of course, is to go around the block with multiple right turns <i>after</i> passing one's desired street, which requires you to stay in the right lane, not the left lane. </p>
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17" title="Edit section: On foot">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="On_foot">On foot</span></h3>
<p>Walking can be an enticing option to get from one neighborhood to another, so long as you are aware of where you are and keep your street smarts. San Francisco is a city of friendly neighborhoods, but it is also a big city so be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind the dangers that commonly accompany a city of San Francisco's size. </p>
<p>However, streets that often go straight up and down hills may make walking challenging when attempting the uphill portions (but provide good exercise). Driving can be difficult up and down hills but have breathtaking views. There are many stairway walks scattered throughout the city when the streets are too steep. You can find <b>maps</b> that include hiking trails, bikeways, and the grade pitch of all streets marked in varying colors by how steep each segment is, that can help you orient to city walks suitable to your ability and temperament, such as the downloadable map issued by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition <a href="http://www.sfbike.org/?maps" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[33]</a>. </p>
<p>Note that locals <i>rarely</i> use the designations &quot;street&quot; or &quot;avenue,&quot; even when differentiating the numbered streets and avenues. Numbered roads designated &quot;Street&quot; are located on the east side of the city, south of Market in Downtown, Castro, Noe Valley, and Mission. Numbered roads designated &quot;Avenue&quot; put you in the Richmond and Sunset districts on the west side. </p>
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18" title="Edit section: By public transit">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_public_transit">By public transit</span></h3>
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<p>San Francisco has one of the most comprehensive public transportation systems in the United States, arguably the most comprehensive system west of Chicago. Transport services within San Francisco are provided by several bodies; they are separate organizations and although they have many interchange stations, tickets are not normally transferable across the systems (except for monthly or longer period passes). The major transit systems are: </p>
<ul>
 <li>Muni — Metro subway, streetcars, buses, trolley buses and cable cars within San Francisco proper. </li>
 <li>BART — regional subway services in the San Francisco Bay Area. </li>
 <li>Caltrain — commuter rail services to San Jos&eacute;. </li>
</ul>
<p><b>San Francisco Municipal Railway</b> or <b>Muni</b>, +1 415 701-2311, <a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mhome/home50.htm" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[34]</a> runs a network of local transport that covers most areas of touristic interest well. An all day Muni passport good on all Muni services, including Cable Cars, costs $14. Other passports and passes are available for longer periods: a 3-day pass costs $21, while a 7 day pass costs $27. The passports come in the form of scratch cards; be sure to scratch off the appropriate dates before using. </p>
<p>The <b>Clipper Card</b> was fully introduced in 2010 and is a contact-less, multi-agency fare card similar to Octopus in <a href="/en/Hong_Kong" title="Hong Kong">Hong Kong</a> and Charlie Card in <a href="/en/Boston" title="Boston">Boston</a>. Clipper cards are free at any MUNI ticket machine and are accepted on BART, CalTrain, San Francisco ferries, and many regional transit systems outside the City of San Francisco, in addition to all of MUNI's vehicles (streetcar/subway, busses and cable cars). Clipper can either be set up with pay as you go with all transfers calculated automatically or a monthly pass (but not daily and weekly passports). MUNI has also created a single use &quot;Clipper Ticket&quot; as the new subway turnstiles no longer accept cash. You can still pay with exact change when boarding a streetcar above ground or a bus. </p>
<p>MUNI operates on a <b>proof of payment</b> basis, sometimes called an &quot;honor system with teeth.&quot; 90 minutes of travel on the Muni system (Metro, F-line streetcar, buses) costs $2 ($0.75 for youth 5-17, disabled, and seniors 65+) including transfers and return trips if they fall within the 90 minute limit. If you're using a Clipper Card, be sure you &quot;touch on&quot; at any of the readers located near the streetcar or bus door to pay your fare and start the 90 minute clock (you can board at any door as they all have readers). Likewise if you aren't using a Clipper Card (and don't have a passport) and pay cash, you must board at the front door and obtain a transfer ticket from the driver. The MUNI Saturation Team (fare inspectors) and sometimes the SFPD randomly and frequently patrol streetcars, subway stations and buses with handheld Clipper Card readers checking for proper fare - residents who ride MUNI regularly report being checked once or twice a week. The fine for being caught without proof of payment is $250, although tourists are sometimes issued a warning if its their first offense. </p>
<p>Cable Cars are not included in these transfers and cost $6 per ride (one way, no transfers), or $14 per day. Before 7AM and after 9PM, seniors and disabled pay $3 for cable car rides. Muni Passports and FastPasses greatly reduce this cost, including cable cars in the regular daily, weekly or monthly fares. </p>
<p>A portable wallet-sized map of San Francisco and all its public transit (MUNI, BART, Caltrain) is also available at stores around the city or through their website online <a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mcust/custtips.htm#buymap" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[35]</a>. Many of the city's bus stops also have posted copies of this map with the location of the stop marked, a godsend for lost pedestrians. </p>
<p>You can plan your Muni travel online <a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[36]</a>. Muni arrival times are also available online for many lines at NextMuni <a href="http://www.nextmuni.com" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[37]</a>. An unofficial site is RescueMuni.com <a href="http://www.rescuemuni.org/nextbus-pda.html" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[38]</a>, which often has information on routes that are not listed officially. </p>
<p>Muni consists of: </p>
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<ul>
 <li><b>Muni Metro</b> (Lines J, K, L, M, N, S and T) is a modern light rail and subway system. It connects many southern and western neighborhoods to downtown, where you can transfer to one of BART's four downtown stations and the Caltrain terminal at 4th and King. Outside of the Market Street and Twin Peaks subways, Muni Metro operates as a surface light rail system, running in the center of the street with stops every couple of blocks (note that many of these stops are not wheelchair accessible - check the map to see which ones are). Tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines before boarding; if the stop does not have such a machine and you do not have a ticket, you must board through the front door and buy one from the driver or risk being fined by a fare inspector. MUNI Metro operates seven days a week from 4:30AM to 1:30AM. Between 1:30AM and 5AM, OWL Buses substitute for Metro service. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>The <b>Historic Streetcar F Line</b> uses historic streetcars, in original colors from several cities in the US and <a href="/en/Milan" title="Milan">Milan</a>, <a href="/en/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a>. The line runs from Fisherman's Wharf south along the waterfront Embarcadero to the ferry building at the foot of Market Street, then up Market Street on the surface to the Castro district. Board through the front door and buy tickets from the operator if you do not already have a transfer or pass. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
 <li>The world-famous <b>Cable Cars</b> run on three lines in the steep streets between Market Street and Fisherman's Wharf: the north-south <b>Powell-Mason</b> and <b>Powell-Hyde</b> lines and the east-west <b>California Street</b> line. These cars are a fun ride, especially if you get to stand on the running board, if a bit impractical for everyday use (though residents of Nob and Russian Hills do, in fact, use them on a daily basis). The cable car is such an attraction that, especially on weekends, it takes longer to wait in line to ride up Powell Street than it does to walk the short but sloping distance. If you want to save yourself time standing in line at the turnaround, just walk up a couple of blocks to the next stop — the conductors save a few spaces for people boarding along the way; you won't get first choice of seats, but you'll save yourself a long time standing in line. Board through any door or just grab a pole on the running boards; tickets are checked and sold by a uniformed conductor. Do not buy tickets from anyone off the car except for clearly marked ticket booths — scam artists are common. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Both diesel and electric trolley <b>buses</b> serve the rest of city. Board through the front door and buy tickets from or show your pass or transfer to the driver. Service ranges from a consistent two minutes on many lines leaving Market, to a more sporadic 20 minutes for buses to Treasure Island and between outlying neighborhoods. Bus delays, leading to waits of 20 to 30 minutes, are not uncommon and are a source of much grousing among locals. MUNI operates 24 hours a day / seven days a week in San Francisco although late night owl service is limited in both lines and stops. </li>
</ul>
<p>Other public transportation options include: </p>
<ul>
 <li><b>BART</b>, the regional metro, has eight stations in San Francisco, making it a nice way to get between well-trafficked parts of the city, especially downtown and the Mission. BART gets you across the Bay to <a href="/en/Berkeley_(California)" title="Berkeley (California)">Berkeley</a> and <a href="/en/Oakland" title="Oakland">Oakland</a> and to the airports of San Francisco and Oakland. BART Trains run over 107 miles (172 km) of track, serving 46 stations. BART trains operate on third rail power and accelerate to speeds approaching 80 MPH (130 km/h). BART operates seven days a week from 4AM to 12:30AM. On weekdays BART trains depart downtown San Francisco stations at two to three minute intervals. Outer stations in far outlying suburbs have a maximum wait of fifteen to twenty minutes between trains. After 12:30AM, AC Transit and other east bay transit providers provide late-night bus service, serving principal BART stations until about 6AM. BART routes are named for the two terminus stations, not by line color as denoted on the system map. For more information on BART, see the 'Get in' section above. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><b>Caltrain</b> has three stops within San Francisco. Other than the 4th and King terminal in <a href="/en/San_Francisco/SoMa" title="San Francisco/SoMa">SoMa</a>, these are the 22nd St. Station and the Bayshore Station (off Tunnel Ave), neither of which are particularly attractive for visitors. Of interest to visitors who wish to travel outside of the city is the <a href="/en/Palo_Alto" title="Palo Alto">Palo Alto</a> Station (at University Avenue), across the street from the campus of Stanford University, and <a href="/en/San_Jose_(California)" title="San Jose (California)">San Jose</a> Diridon Station. Caltrain operates fast frequent commuter rail service, seven days a week. Service generally runs from 5AM to Midnight. For more information on Caltrain, see the 'Get in' section above. </li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19" title="Edit section: By bike">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_bike">By bike</span></h3>
<p>If you have strong legs and can tolerate traffic with intermittent bike lanes, bicycles can be a convenient form of transportation in San Francisco. Although it's a city with a hefty population and a high density rate, San Francisco is fairly small in land area-- just 7x7 miles from north to south and east to west-- so it's fairly quick to get from one end to the other. But much of the terrain is hilly and hard to pedal up. <b>Do not</b> be misled by maps depicting the city's strict, regular street grid, as even the straightest of San Francisco's streets might include steep hills or even staircases instead of a roadway. A classic and relatively easy ride is from the tip of Golden Gate Park's panhandle in the Haight, along paths and JFK Drive through the park to Ocean Beach. JFK Drive is lightly trafficked, and closed to cars on Sundays. </p>
<p>Downtown, SoMa, and the Sunset, and Richmond districts are relatively flat. There are a number of bike paths and bike routes on city streets; the <b>San Francisco Bike Coalition</b> <a href="http://www.sfbike.org/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[39]</a> keeps a lot of information about them. There are a number of bike rental companies in town, including <b>Dylan's Bike Rental</b> <a href="http://dylanstours.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[40]</a>,<b>Bay City Bike</b> <a href="http://www.baycitybike.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[41]</a>, <b>Bike and Roll</b> <a href="http://www.bikerental.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[42]</a> and <b>Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals</b> <a href="http://www.blazingsaddles.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[43]</a> with locations in Fisherman's Wharf, and the <b>Bike Hut</b> <a href="http://www.thebikehut.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[44]</a> and <b>Pacific Bicycle</b> <a href="http://pacbikes.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[45]</a> in SoMa. </p>
<p>The Golden Gate Bridge has sectioned off pathways on each side for pedestrians and bicyclists. If you choose to ride a bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, be aware that walkers always stay on the east side of the bridge and bikes are often to ride on the west (ocean) side of the bridge. When the Bridge is closed to pedestrians during nighttime, you may continue to bicycle across by stopping to press the buzzer at the automatically closed gates to be buzzed in and out. <a href="http://goldengatebridge.org/bikesbridge/bikes.php" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[46]</a> It is a pet peeve of many locals to have to dodge bicycles while jogging or strolling. </p>
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=20" title="Edit section: By taxi">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_taxi">By taxi</span></h3>
<p>Taxis in San Francisco are, for a large city, surprisingly inefficient and expensive, starting at $3.10 just for getting in the door. You can get an idea of how much particular taxi trips cost in San Francisco using the San Francisco Taxicab Commission's webpage <a href="http://www.sfgov.org/site/taxicommission_index.asp?id=8125#sfrates" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[47]</a>. </p>
<p>Except for taxi stations at or near downtown business hotels, or cruising just a few major arteries, taxis can be hard to find and hail -- and calling for a cab can mean a 30-45 minute wait, if the cab shows up at all. Now, if you're anywhere near Union Square and are holding shopping bags, just by standing on the curb and hailing passing cabs will usually get you one quite quickly. It is significantly easier to catch a taxi on weekdays, not including Friday night. </p>
<p>If you are heading to the airport, your best bet is to call ahead with a specific pickup time to one of the many taxi companies. You will also want to schedule your cab ahead of time because if you are going beyond 15 miles, you will end up paying 50% extra. </p>
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/wiki/en/index.php?title=San_Francisco&amp;action=edit&amp;section=21" title="Edit section: By car">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_car_2">By car</span></h3>
<p>Perpetually-clogged traffic, steep hills, a confusing system of <b>one-way streets</b> downtown, expensive parking, and a fleet of parking control officers who enforce parking laws with zeal can make driving in San Francisco extremely frustrating; visitors to the city should seriously consider alternatives to automobiles when possible. Car rental is expensive, registration fees are the highest of any U.S. state, and because collisions are common, rates for liability insurance (legally required) are high as well. In addition, traffic from the Golden Gate Bridge uses surface streets either along CA-1, 19th Avenue or US-101 on Lombard and Van Ness. A car is really only useful for visiting destinations outside of the city. <b>The greatest hazard of driving</b> is on Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth, where a stretch known as &quot;The Crookedest Street in the World&quot; runs one-way down a steep hill making eight hairpin turns. Oversized vehicles such as pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and recreational vehicles should NOT attempt to pass through the winding stretch of Lombard Street. </p>
<p>The most difficult problem with your car in San Francisco will be parking. Parking throughout the city is extremely scarce. Garages, where they are available, are quite expensive ($20-30/day downtown). San Francisco has some of the strictest parking laws and enforcement in the country. For day trips into the city, consider a park-and-ride at a <a href="/en/Peninsula_(Bay_Area)" title="Peninsula (Bay Area)">Peninsula</a> Caltrain <a href="http://www.caltrain.com" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[48]</a> station, at a <a href="/en/Peninsula_(Bay_Area)" title="Peninsula (Bay Area)">Peninsula</a> BART <a href="http://www.bart.gov" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[49]</a> station, or at an <a href="/en/East_Bay_(Bay_Area)" title="East Bay (Bay Area)" class="mw-redirect">East Bay</a> BART station. </p>
<p>When parking on a hill (and there are many of them in San Francisco), remember to <b>always</b> apply that parking brake and turn your wheels so that the tires are against the curb (Facing uphill, the front wheels should be turned out until the tires are resting against the curb. Facing downhill, the front wheels should be turned in so that they are set against the curb). Failure to park properly doesn't just run the risk of having your car roll downhill, but it is also against the law and you may be ticketed. <a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/penf/indxpkenf.htm#curbwheels" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[50]</a> </p>
<p><b>Motorcycles and scooters</b> are a common sight on San Francisco streets; in fact, San Francisco is known as one of the most motorcycle-friendly places in the U.S. Street parking for motorcycles is plentiful and relatively inexpensive ($0.40 to $0.70 an hour), but note that parking on sidewalks is usually illegal. There are several motorcycle rental shops, along with many dealers, service shops, and motorcyclist hangouts. As elsewhere in California, motorcyclists must wear helmets. Motorcycle theft is a problem; always use a disk lock or secure your bike to a stationary object using a cable or chain. </p>
<p><b>Segways</b>, though more novel, are fairly common in San Francisco. So far there is only one authorized Segway dealer that rents out Segways <a href="http://www.siliconsegway.com/" class="external autonumber" rel="nofollow">[51]</a>, though various tour operators (many of whom operate from <a href="/en/San_Francisco/Fisherman%27s_Wharf" title="San Francisco/Fisherman's Wharf">Fisherman's Wharf</a>) offer guided trips throughout the city. </p>
<p><br /> </p>